Chapter 20, Problem 67AE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The distribution of ${}^{\text{18}}\text{O}$ expected in ${\text{NO}}_{\text{2}}$ molecules needs to be determined.

Concept Introduction: The reaction of NO and oxygen gas is represented as follows:

  $2\text{NO}\left(g\right)+{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\left(g\right)\to 2{\text{NO}}_{\text{2}}\left(g\right)$

The mechanism for the reaction is as follows:

  $\begin{array}{l}\text{NO}\left(g\right)+{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\left(g\right)\to {\text{NO}}_3\left(g\right)\\ {\text{NO}}_3\left(g\right)+\text{NO}\left(g\right)\to 2{\text{NO}}_{\text{2}}\left(g\right)\end{array}$

There are two possible isotopes of O that is ${}^{18}\text{O}$ and ${}^{16}\text{O}$ .